Ghunaim: Saudi Leading Role on Palestinian Cause Rooted in Its Historic Stance Since King Abdulaziz Era

Saudi flag - File Photo/AAWSAT
Saudi flag - File Photo/AAWSAT
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Ghunaim: Saudi Leading Role on Palestinian Cause Rooted in Its Historic Stance Since King Abdulaziz Era

Saudi flag - File Photo/AAWSAT
Saudi flag - File Photo/AAWSAT

Palestine’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mazen Ghunaim affirmed that Saudi Arabia’s leading role toward the Palestinian cause is a continuation of its longstanding historic stance since the era of late King Abdulaziz Al Saud, who entrenched support for Palestine as the foremost cause of Arabs and Muslims.

“The leadership and people of the State of Palestine express their deep appreciation and gratitude for the firm and consistent support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, toward the Palestinian cause,” the Palestinian ambassador said.

“This support was reaffirmed in the announcement by Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah regarding the Kingdom’s co-chairmanship with the French Republic of the high-level international conference on resolving the Palestinian cause through peaceful solutions and implementing the two-state solution, to be held at the United Nations headquarters in New York this week”, he added.

He noted that the Kingdom has always embodied the fundamental pillar in defending the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and supporting international, Arab, and Islamic efforts to end the occupation and achieve a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution, with an independent Palestinian state established along the 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Palestinian ambassador highlighted the Saudi foreign minister’s affirmation of the Kingdom’s support for the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, launched in September 2024 in partnership with the Kingdom of Norway and the European Union.

He also described the upcoming international conference in New York as an important opportunity to advance the implementation of international legitimacy resolutions, end the suffering of the Palestinian people, and uphold their inalienable rights.

Additionally, he stated that the Kingdom’s standing alongside Palestine today, as it did in the past, epitomizes steadfastness and nobility and embodies the meanings of true brotherhood. He stressed that his country will remain faithful to this generous support until the Palestinian people attain their full freedom in their independent state.



UAE Air Defenses Intercept 5 Ballistic Missiles, 35 UAVs

UAE air defenses on Wednesday engaged 5 ballistic missiles and 35 UAVs launched from Iran (AFP).
UAE air defenses on Wednesday engaged 5 ballistic missiles and 35 UAVs launched from Iran (AFP).
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UAE Air Defenses Intercept 5 Ballistic Missiles, 35 UAVs

UAE air defenses on Wednesday engaged 5 ballistic missiles and 35 UAVs launched from Iran (AFP).
UAE air defenses on Wednesday engaged 5 ballistic missiles and 35 UAVs launched from Iran (AFP).

The UAE air defenses on Wednesday intercepted 5 ballistic missiles and 35 UAVs launched from Iran, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM).

The agency said that, since the start of the Iranian attacks, UAE air defenses have engaged 438 ballistic missiles, 19 cruise missiles and 2,012 UAVs.

A WAM statement said the attacks resulted in the martyrdom of two members of the armed forces while performing their national duty, in addition to the death of a Moroccan civilian contracted by the Armed Forces, as well as nine civilian fatalities of Pakistani, Nepali, Bangladeshi, Palestinian and Indian nationalities.

A total of 190 people were also injured, with injuries ranging from minor to moderate and severe, from various nationalities including Emirati, Egyptian, Sudanese, Ethiopian, Filipino, Pakistani, Iranian and Indian.

The Ministry of Defense affirmed that it remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront anything that aims to undermine the country’s security, in a manner that preserves its sovereignty and stability and protects its interests and national capabilities.


Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Arrives in Riyadh on Official Visit

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA
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Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Arrives in Riyadh on Official Visit

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA

Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah arrived Wednesday in Riyadh on an official visit to Saudi Arabia.

He was received by Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji at King Khalid International Airport.


Qatar Says Iran Missile Struck Tanker in Its Waters

28 March 2026, Qatar, Doha: A view of the West Bay skyline in Doha with its lights switched off during Earth Hour. (dpa)
28 March 2026, Qatar, Doha: A view of the West Bay skyline in Doha with its lights switched off during Earth Hour. (dpa)
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Qatar Says Iran Missile Struck Tanker in Its Waters

28 March 2026, Qatar, Doha: A view of the West Bay skyline in Doha with its lights switched off during Earth Hour. (dpa)
28 March 2026, Qatar, Doha: A view of the West Bay skyline in Doha with its lights switched off during Earth Hour. (dpa)

Qatar said on Wednesday that a tanker leased to its state-owned energy company was struck by an Iranian missile in the Gulf country's territorial waters.

"Qatar was targeted... by three cruise missiles launched from Iran," the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Qatar's military "intercepted two of the cruise missiles, while the third missile struck an oil tanker leased to QatarEnergy in Qatar's territorial waters," it said.

"Coordination was established with relevant authorities to evacuate the tanker, which had 21 crew members on board, without any human casualties," the ministry added.

Gulf countries have faced repeated drone and missile salvos from Iran over the past month in response to US and Israeli strikes that began at the end of February.

Iran has targeted hydrocarbon infrastructure in the oil-rich Gulf nations as well as shipping, effectively closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of global oil usually passes.

QatarEnergy said in a statement the Aqua 1, a fuel oil tanker, had been "the subject of a missile attack in the northern territorial waters of the State of Qatar in the early morning hours of Wednesday".

It confirmed no crew members had been injured and there was "no impact on the environment as a result of this incident".